LOCAL

MEMORIAL BLACK DOMINATES LA PORTE

JaQuaylin Crook, Javonte Butler and Chris Thomas led a successful defensive charge for Port Arthur Memorial’s freshman Black football team Thursday night in a 46-18 win over La Porte at Memorial Stadium.

Teajuan Mack and Kameron Ladia earned offensive player of the game honors for Memorial Black, which is now 3-4-1 and 1-2-1 in District 21-6A.

Memorial White and La Porte finished in a scoreless tie. Jordan Romar, Eduardo Garcia and Kenneth Francis were named top defenders for White (4-2-1, 2-1-1). Top offensive players were Jacob Washington, Ahmad Appleberry and the entire offensive line.

LAMAR SCHEDULES TIP-OFF BREAKFAST

BEAUMONT — The Lamar University men’s and women’s basketball teams will once again hold the annual Tip-Off Breakfast Saturday, Oct. 31, in the Montagne Center. The breakfast is at 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Tables range from $300 to $1,000, and individual tickets can be purchased for $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. The breakfast will include live and silent auctions. Both head coaches Tic Price and Robin Harmony will be on hand to speak at the breakfast. It will conclude with a short men’s and women’s red and white scrimmage.

VOLLEYBALL CARDS SWEPT AT HOME

BEAUMONT — Central Arkansas put up an overwhelming offensive display and used it to shoot past the Lamar volleyball team for a straight-set 3-0 win (25-23, 25-16, 25-16) Thursday night at McDonald Gym in Southland Conference action.  The loss was the first the Cardinals have suffered on its home court this season.

Lamar fell to 13-8 on the year and 3-4 in league play while the Bears improved to 11-10 and 7-2 in Southland Conference action.

Haley Morton accounted for 28 assists of Lamar’s 31 kills, and Lauren Stahlman had 14 digs which was just ahead of Nicole Parish’s eight.

STATE

COACH REPRIMANDED, PLAYERS BANNED

ROUND ROCK (AP) — Texas high school sports officials showed leniency Thursday after a former assistant football coach denied ordering two players to blindside a referee but acknowledged making comments that may have unintentionally instigated the hit.

In doling out final penalties for the Sept. 4 incident, the University Interscholastic League suspended former San Antonio John Jay assistant Mack Breed for the rest of the school year and placed him on two years’ probation. Breed could have been suspended for up to three years, but UIL officials said his willingness to testify helped reduce the sanctions.

Breed said he wanted to “clear my name” and choked up while defending himself.

Head coach Gary Gutierrez was given a public reprimand and two years’ probation, and the two players involved were suspended from all sports or extracurricular activities for the rest of the academic year.

The suspensions will end the career of one player who is a senior. The other, a sophomore, must agree to speak with UIL officials about the Sept. 4 incident before he’ll be reinstated.

REGIONAL

SAINTS END FALCONS’ 5-0 START TO SEASON

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Proud veterans Drew Brees and Ben Watson summoned their best performances of the season and restored a bit of swagger to the recently reeling Saints.

Brees passed for 312 yards, Watson racked up a career-high 127 yards receiving to go with a fourth-down touchdown catch, and New Orleans handed the Atlanta Falcons their first loss of the season with a 31-21 win on Thursday night.

Desperate for a victory, the Saints (2-4) enjoyed big plays in all phases, a common occurrence when New Orleans hosts night games. Including the playoffs, the Saints have now won 19 of 21 games in the Superdome in prime time.

Michael Mauti, who grew up near New Orleans after his father, Rich, played for the Saints, blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown, delighting the Superdome crowd with a play reminiscent of Steve Gleason’s famous block against Atlanta in 2006.

Port Arthur Lincoln alumnus Jonathan Babineaux had one tackle for Atlanta.